Although the coronavirus pandemic first appeared in China all the way back in December, the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t really become a global issue until mid-March. That means we’re about two months into this thing and there’s still no telling how much longer we’ll be dealing with it.
But one thing’s for sure—the world of psychedelics has been just as busy as ever. In this month’s recap you’ll learn about a new compound that can make an LSD trip come to a screeching halt, an innovative technique for synthesizing psilocybin, how people are coping with being stranded at ayahuasca retreats, and much more.
Here is a slimmed-down video recap version that is available for those who prefer an easier-to-digest option:
Without further ado, let’s jump into the news:
MindMed Develops an Off-Switch For LSD
Have you ever wanted the ability to stop a psychedelic trip in its tracks? Many people keep benzodiazepines on hand just in case an innerspace voyage goes too far off the beaten path, but one psychedelic pharmaceutical company has a different solution in mind.
MindMed made two major announcements in April. The company acquired exclusive rights to eight clinical LSD trials and it is also developing a novel compound that is capable of stopping an LSD experience on-demand. This so-called “off-switch” could prove useful for bringing psychedelic therapy sessions to a halt if patients get too uncomfortable.
Many in the psychedelic community have questioned the necessity and efficacy of such an option. After all, even the most transformative psychedelic journeys can be uncomfortable, and sitting with (and navigating through) discomfort is often part of the experience. There’s also the possibility that halting a bad trip could prevent the process from coming to its natural conclusion, potentially prolonging underlying issues rather than resolving them.
However a clinically-tested trip-killer could prove useful in certain situations, such as when someone has lost their grip on reality and emergency medical staff are unable to communicate with the patient or get them to calm down. In that way it would be similar to using naloxone to revive an opioid user from an overdose.
At this point we don’t know exactly what the compound is or if it can stop psychedelic trips with other drugs. And it’s too early to know whether this compound is safe, effective, or even necessary. MindMed certainly hopes it is.
Growing Psilocybin From Yeast
Last month a team of Danish researchers presented a novel method of producing psilocybin that uses common baker’s yeast. This could prove useful for scientific research and psychedelic therapy, but it might also trickle down to the underground community of mycophiles who grow magic mushrooms from the comfort of their own home.
While there are still engineering issues to work out before this synthesis method could be applied at scale, it may prove to be a better option than the extraction and synthesis methods currently in use. Up until now, extracting psilocybin from magic mushrooms has been tricky and expensive, and existing chemical synthesis methods require expensive starting substrates that are also difficult to acquire.
But baker’s yeast can be found at any grocery store. So if this technique is perfected then manufacturing psilocybin for use in psychedelic research or therapy—as well as recreational or spiritual purposes—might become a whole lot easier.
People Are Stranded at Ayahuasca Retreats
People from all around the world have been finding themselves stranded at ayahuasca retreats in foreign countries due to border closings and a lack of flights. This has even affected one of my favorite YouTubers in the psychedelic/spirituality space, Dakota of Earth. Ayahuasca ceremonies introduce additional risks of spreading COVID-19, so it is very important that retreats take this issue seriously and respond accordingly.
This situation has been stressful for retreat operators and attendees alike, and although some attendees have been able to go home, not everyone has been so lucky. Hopefully those who are still stranded will be able to return to their home countries soon.
Cannabis Reforms Hit ANOTHER Wall
Cannabis reform efforts in America continued to suffer blow after blow last month due to the coronavirus pandemic. Attempts to legalize cannabis met their end in a couple states. In Missouri, activists officially decided to throw in the towel on their cannabis legalization campaign. And things in New York started off on the wrong foot when legalization was dropped from the budget, but the real death blow came a few days later when Governor Andrew Cuomo said that the effort was “effectively over”.
Organizers in other states didn’t call it quits but things aren’t looking so good. Activists in Idaho suspended their campaign to legalize medical marijuana and the legalization initiative in North Dakota is unlikely to move forward.
Although voters in Maine approved an initiative to legalize cannabis for recreational use way back in 2016, retail sales were not expected to begin until this Spring. However, officials delayed the rollout of adult-use cannabis stores due to concerns surrounding the pandemic.
Other campaigns are still hanging on by a thread. Arizona’s legalization campaign asked the state Supreme Court to allow the collection of electronic signatures and Montana activists went one step further by suing the state for the right to collect signatures online.
While many cannabis reforms have given up due to the coronavirus pandemic, others are soldiering on in hopes that they will still be successful.
Virginia Legalized Medical Marijuana
Fortunately not all cannabis reforms struggled. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam approved two separate bills—one to decriminalize cannabis and the other to legalize medical marijuana. But the governor also proposed several amendments to both bills, which meant they needed to go back to the legislature before they could become laws.
Virginia lawmakers approved the governor’s proposal to expand the state’s medical marijuana program, which means that the law went into effect without needing any further action from the governor.
However, members of both the House and the Senate ended up rejecting some of the proposed amendments to the decriminalization bill, which has gone back to the Northam’s desk. He’s expected to sign the bill into law, which means that Virginia will probably decriminalize cannabis on July 1st.
Bicycle Day and 420 Were Celebrated Online
Every stoner’s favorite holiday was a little bit different this year because 420 events were canceled all over the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was deflating, to say the least. But cannabis enthusiasts made the best of the situation by celebrating virtually this year by hosting smoke sessions and other events on video chat platforms.
Similarly, Bicycle Day celebrations were shut down but thankfully acidheads were able to get together online for a Bicycle Night livestream that celebrated the anniversary of Albert Hofmann’s first intentional use of LSD.
Macrodosing Legend Kilindi Iyi Passed Away
The psychedelic community lost one of its more ambitious and experimental elders in April when legendary macrodoser Kilindi Iyi passed away. Hailing from Detroit, he routinely worked with extremely large doses of psilocybin mushrooms and was part of a community of students and peers that explored the outer reaches of consciousness. He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind and lived like a true warrior.
If you’re not familiar with Kilindi Iyi then you should definitely check out some of his talks on YouTube. You won’t be disappointed. Rest in peace, Kilindi.
Psychedelic Clinical Trials Were Affected By the Coronavirus Pandemic
Psychedelic research trials were forced to adapt to the new world birthed by the pandemic. Many organizations took precautions to ensure the safety of researchers and patients.
MAPS postponed enrollment for Phase 3 MDMA trials and started using teleconferencing options to follow up with patients. COMPASS Pathways put a temporary hold on accepting new patients although pre-screening continued, which will allow the company to resume enrollment as soon as possible. The Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Center stopped all study visits but did not end its recruitment efforts.
MindMed started enrolling volunteers in the company’s human safety studies of 18-MC, a compound derived from iboga that was developed for the treatment of opioid use disorders. The company claims it is “taking the necessary precautions to protect the health and safety of patients and staff”.
Esketamine vs. (Racemic) Ketamine
Ever since esketamine started receiving breakthrough therapy designations back in 2013, there has been an argument about whether the drug is as safe and effective as ketamine, its much older (and much cheaper) sibling. That match-up was put to the test last month when a randomized control trial directly compared the two drugs and found that they are equally effective at treating resistant depression.
However, they may not be as good at treating depression as other psychedelics. New research from an animal study found that ketamine might not be as effective at treating depression than psilocybin.
The World’s First Psychedelic Video Museum
If you have extra time on your hands and are in the mood to watch something trippy then look no further—after posting one psychedelic video per day for the last ten years, The Daily Psychedelic Video shared its psychedelic video museum with the world on Bicycle Day. The new virtual museum features 700 videos that have been selected from the site’s archive. The collection is organized by categories like “Soviet Psychedelia”, “Sixties Psychedelia”, and “Psychedelic Cinema”.
12 Fall Ill After Eating Datura Seeds
Twelve people in an Indian village fell ill after consuming datura seeds that resembled the shape of the coronavirus. They got the idea after watching a video on social media, believing that the seeds would strengthen their immune systems and prevent them from getting sick. As a public service announcement, I’d like to recommend that you don’t eat any datura seeds. Especially the ones that look like the coronavirus.
That’s all for this month’s update. Remember to always test and weigh your drugs and until next time—keep thinking wilder.
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